The process of negotiation sanctioned in the United States by the National Labor Relations Board. It is the method used for formal talks between management and labor within modern business, industry, or service organizations. Binding arbitration means that all parties must obey the arbitrator’s recommendations.

The process whereby workers organize under the representation of a union in order to share a degree of power with management to determine selected aspects of the conditions of employment.

A term associated with a negative workplace event that results in an allegation by an employee that he or she has not been treated fairly and equitably. Grievances can occur in union and non-union settings. In a union setting, a grievance generally arises when two parties, such as an employee and a manager, interpret contract provisions differently. Grievances often involve job security or safety, which is a union priority, or job performance or discipline, which is a management priority.

Occurs when there is a single union for all workers in a corporation. For example, all people who work in an automobile manufacturing company may be grouped together under the United Auto Workers (UAW). It is possible that the industrial union, with its massive numbers of union members, is the strongest possible collective group.

A group composed of those who work for others to receive a salary.

The group of people within a business or company who plan, organize, lead, or control the activities of employees who have agreed to work to receive a salary.

A form of settling disputes that involves a trained person who listens to all parties and makes recommendations. Such mediation is generally not legally binding.

Each occupation within a given company has separate unions; these occupational groups might join others of like work across boundaries and across the country. White-collar workers coming from a background of higher education and some measure of job security tend to prefer occupational unionism and organizing with like-minded professionals. In general, nurses prefer occupational unionism.

A form of protest in which people (called picketers) congregate outside a place of work or location where an event is taking place. Often this is done in an attempt to dissuade others from going in (“crossing the picket line”), but it can also be done to draw public attention to a cause.

Statutes enforced in 22 U.S. states, mostly in the southern and western United States, allowed under provisions of the Taft-Hartley Act, which prohibit agreements between unions and employers that make membership or payment of union dues or “fees” a condition of employment, either before or after hiring.

To establish a union in a workplace, a majority of employees must express support for the union. The employees prove majority through a secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board.

A work stoppage caused by the refusal of a large portion of employees to perform work; usually takes place to enforce demands relating to employment conditions on their employer or to protest unfair labor practices. Sympathy strike occurs when one union stops work to support the strike of another union.

Actions that interfere with the rights of employees or employers as identified under the National Labor Relations Act. An unfair labor practice can be something as simple as suspicion by an employee that he or she was assigned to an unpopular task unfairly, or it can be as complex as the identification of a pattern of many employees receiving discriminatory treatment in the workplace because of being union supporters. Unfair labor practices are a frequent source of either strikes or the initiation of union activity within a setting.

A group of workers who band together to accomplish goals related to conditions of employment.

Refers to a worksite that requires all new employees in a specific work group to join the union. Dues will be deducted automatically from employees’ paychecks as defined in the facility’s contract.